A Time to Harvest

Join the OYA team for a weekend yoga and mindfulness retreat at Sparkford Hall, a 23 acre estate with gardens, parkland, and a variety of the cutest animals - from alpacas to baby lambs - located in Somerset. The retreat will include yoga, mindfulness, movement, vegetarian meals, as well as free time to explore the area, rest, read, and relax curled up by the fire. You can register here.

Theme

Autumn is a season marked by ripeness. At the beginning of the year and throughout the Spring, seeds are sown. And in autumn, we are called to harvest. But as most things do not come as planned or expected, it can be hard to see just how bountiful the harvest truly is.

At this retreat, we will reflect on our process of sowing, fertilising and nurturing seeds, in order to better appreciate our harvest. This weekend of sessions is perfect for you, if you are looking to acknowledge the lessons as well as give thanks for their abundance - surrounded in support and sisterhood.

At this point in nature's cycle, we are reminded of the law of nature. In order to reap, we must sow. And this must originate from within.

The body is the only true home that we will ever have, so it's important that it be nourished and cherished. Over the course of the weekend, guests will be led in movement and mindfulness practice to do exactly that.

The retreat schedule is subject to change and will be released to registered guests closer to the date. Please have a look at our example schedule here.

Treatments

Treatments will be on offer, including deep holistic massage, Reiki, and bespoke body work programmes. Treatments can be scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday at an additional charge.

Accommodations

Single and double/twin occupancy available for a maximum of 20 guests. Each room is stylistically decorated with its own flare. There are shared bath and shower rooms on each floor. Some deluxe rooms include ensuite facilities. One set of bedding and sheets as well as one set of towels are provided. Soaps and creams can be found in each bathroom.

Meals

The retreat is fully catered with dairy- and wheat-free vegetarian cuisine. On Friday evening a light dinner will be served. Saturday and Sunday morning, a warm broth will be offered before the movement session, and breakfast after the movement session. On Saturday, a filling and warm lunch will be served and a light and healthy dinner. On Sunday, a light lunch will be offered after the last yoga class.

Travel Information

Arrivals are welcome from 4:00pm on Friday, 11 November. We ask that all guests arrive by 6:00pm so that we can begin the program punctually with a welcome at 6:30pm. The retreat will end at 4pm on the Sunday, 13 November.

From London the House can be reached via direct trains leaving London Paddington. Upon arrival at Castle Cary a taxi can be ordered for approx. £12 - £15. If enough guests plan to arrive/depart at the same time, we can arrange for a shuttle van to transport you for a slightly reduced rate. There is also plenty of parking available on site.

Costs

Double/twin shared room: £425/person (£375 if paid in full by 8 September 2016)

Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of £200 is required within 7 days of registering in order to reserve your space on the retreat. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the retreat, on 12 October 2016. Guests booking after 12 October will be required to pay the full price when reserving their place.

Rooms available on a first come basis. Please review room options here and indicate your preference. We will do our best to meet your requests.

The price includes all accommodations, meals, and yoga/mindfulness/movement sessions. Transportation and treatment costs are not included.

Cancellation policy: Please let us know as soon as possible if something prevents you from attending the retreat. If you need to cancel more than 30 days before the retreat start date, we will refund you the full amount you've paid minus the deposit. Within 30 days of the retreat, we will not be able to refund you unless we can find someone to take your position. In that case, you will receive a full refund minus the deposit within 30 days after the retreat has ended.